Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
2134859
A FEMALE CONNECTION MEMBER FOR SLACKLESS DRAWBAR ASSEMBLY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates, in general, to slackless type drawbar
assemblies which
are presently being extensively used by the railroad industry to couple the
adjacently
disposed ends of a pair of railway type freight cars together in a
substantially
semi-permanent manner and, more particularly, this invention relates to a
specially
configured female connection member for use in conjunction with a specially
configured
male connection member adapted to carry a ball and race assembly at least at
one end
thereof in order to
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accomplish the requisite amount of angling movements required between
such adjacently disposed ends of the pair of railway freight cars during
normal operation on a track structure.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Such slackless type drawbar assemblies, as is well known in the
art, have been in widespread use for several years, prior to the
development of the present invention, to couple together adjacently
disposed ends of a pair of railway freight cars in a substantially semi-
permanent fashion.
The freight cars which are coupled together in this particular
manner are usually of the type used by the railroad industry in what is
referred to as dedicated type service. Such dedicated service type
railway cars at least include; for example, freight cars used to haul
coal, coke, and/or various other types of raw minerals, light truck and
automobile transport carriers, tank cars used to transport various types
of liquids, as well as, freight cars that are used to transport various
types of building materials.
One prior art slackless type drawbar assembly, known to applicants
at the present time, is taught in U.S. Patent No. 5,000,330. Shown
therein is a pair of railway freight cars which have their adjacently
disposed ends connected together by the slackless drawbar assembly.
This slackless type drawbar assembly, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3,
is constructed in such a manner that will enable it to operate with a
positioning apparatus.
This drawbar includes a shank portion provided with a non-rotatable
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fixed end portion movably secured within one end of the center sill
portion of the car body member. The shank portion, also, includes a
rotatab:Le end portion secured within one end of the center sill portion
of an adjacently disposed car body member. Each of the fixed end
portion and the rotatable end portion of such slackless drawbar assembly
extends into pocket castings which have follower blocks, which differ
slightly, disposed therein but otherwise the center sill portions and
pocket casting parts of both car body members are substantially
identical and are best seen in the enlarged view of Figure 3A.
The fixed end portion is held in place in the center sill portion
of such car body member by a key and against a follower member disposed
in the pocket casting. The pocket casting is received within the center
sill opening, defined at it's inboard end by rear stop members which
abut against side wall extensions provided on the pocket casting. A
shim member may be disposed intermediate the rear stop members and the
side wall extensions of such pocket casting. The shim member is
replaced with a thicker shim :member, when excessive wear requires the
pocket casting to be spaced a further distance from the rear stop
members.
The pocket casting includes a cup-like cavity formed by an
end wall portion and an encircling skirt portion of such pocket
casting. Within such cup-like cavity, the end wall portion exhibits an
inclined face formed with a generally shallow V-shaped concavity.
One embodiment of a wedge shaped member, illustrated in Figures 9
and 10, is provided with two laterally projecting guide tabs to minimize
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lateral shifting thereof. Lifting or positioning lugs, also, project
from the sides of such wedge shaped member. Access to both the lugs and
the wedge shaped member is provided by an access opening or slot formed
in the skirt portion of the pocket casting and a corresponding aperture
provided in the top web of the center sill portion and in a lower
channel member (which supports such pocket casting) to enable the
insertion of a tool to engage the lugs of the wedge shaped member
'without having to remove the pocket casting. The wedge shaped member
may, also, be vertically positioned by inserting a tool through an
opening, or slot, formed in the pocket casting and the side walls (not
shown) of the center sill portion.
Another embodiment of such wedge shaped member, as shown in Figure
3A, is provided with a depending tail piece portion. This tail piece
portion of such wedge shaped member extends in a downwardly direction
through bottom openings formed in the pocket casting skirt portion and
in the .lower channel.
The rotatable end of: the drawbar assembly is, also, received
in a center sill opening of the car body. Within the center sill
opening is a pocket casting, having a wedge, and a follower block of
structure similar to that described in connection with the stationary or
fixed end, although it may extend outwardly of the pocket casting to
engage a larger portion of the rotatable end. A shim may be disposed
between the rear stop members and the pocket casting wall as, also,
described at the fixed end. Similar wedge member access slots and
apertures are, also, provided in the pocket casting and the top web and
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2134859
sides of the center sill portion.
Channels are, also, removably secured, by bolts or the
like, across the center sill to support the pocket casting and
the 'wedge for both the fixed end of the drawbar assembly as well
as the rotatable end.
Should a slack adjusting wedge member, and/or adjacent
parts, become worn to the point such that the wedge member will
no longer function to eliminate slack, the wedge member can be
lifted by extending a tool through the openings and apertures
into engagement with the wedge lugs.
Another method is to insert a tool through the bottom
openings in the pocket casting skirt portion and lower channel
and apply a vertical force to the bottom of the wedge shim, or
by pushing upward on a wedge tail piece if such tail piece is
provided. This will allow the worn parts to be spaced further
from the rear stop members and a shim member to be disposed
between the rear stop members and the pocket casting wall, or
a shim to be replaced with a thicker shim to compensate for
dimensional changes in worn but still usable parts. Similarly,
if i.t becomes necessary to disconnect the drawbar assembly, this
can be accomplished at either or both ends by lifting the wedge
member and removing either, or both, the key and the pulling
blocks (by first removing the cross plate).
SUMMARY' OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a female connection member
that. is used in conjunction with a slackless type drawbar
assembly which connects tc>gether adjacently disposed ends of a
pair of railway cars in
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;~ substantially semi-permanent fashion. Such female connection member
:includes a first end portion, having a first predetermined configuration
which enables the first end portion of such female connection member to
loe engaged within an outer end portion of a center sill member disposed
~cn a bottom portion of a car body member of a first railway car. A
:radially opposed second end portion of such female connection member
.extends outwardly from the outer end portion of such center sill member.
'there is a cavity formed in such radially opposed second end portion of
the female connection member. This cavity is defined by an inner
surface of a back wall portion, having a second predetermined
configuration, an inner surface of a top wall portion and an inner
surface of a pair of side wall portions. Each side wall portion having
a third predetermined configuration. This cavity is open adjacent at
least a portion of a bottom and an outer end of such radially opposed
second end portion of the female connection member. A first opening,
having a fourth predetermined configuration, is formed through a first
one of such pair of side wall. portions and a radially opposed second
opening, having a fifth predetermined configuration, is formed through
a second one of such pair of side wall portions.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present
invention to provide a female connection member for use with a slackless
type dr.awbar assembly that connects together, in a substantially semi-
permanent fashion, the adjacently disposed ends of a pair of railway
freight cars in which a ball and race assembly can be utilized adjacent
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!~A2134859
,at least one end of such slackless drawbar assembly.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a female
~~onnection member for use with a slackless type drawbar assembly that
~~onnect:a together, in a substantially semi-permanent fashion, the
adjaceni:ly disposed ends of a pair of railway freight cars which will
enable a minimum number of components which must move relative to each
other to be used, especially, when compared to
the relatively large number of components that are required to move with
respect to each other in the presently known prior art type slackless
drawbar assemblies.
Stall another object of the present invention is to provide a
female connection member for use with a slackless type drawbar assembly
that connects together, in a substantially semi-permanent fashion, the
adjacently disposed ends of a pair of railway freight cars which will,
generally, require substantially less repair and/or routine maintenance,
particularly, when compared to the
repair and/or routine maintenance requirements of presently known prior
art type slackless drawbar assemblies.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a female
connection member for use with a slackless type drawbar assembly that
connects together, in a substantially semi-permanent fashion, the
adjacently disposed ends of a pair of railway freight cars which will
exhibit a relatively long operating service life, especially when
compared to the normal operating service life of such presently known
prior art type slackless drawbar assemblies.
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A further object of the present invention is to provide a female
~~onnection member for use with a slackless type drawbar assembly that
connects together, in a substantially semi-permanent fashion, the
~~djacently disposed ends of a pair of railway freight cars which will be
significantly more cost effective for the user.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a
female connection member for use with a slackless type drawbar assembly
that connects together, in a substantially semi-permanent fashion, the
adjacently disposed ends of a pair of railway freight cars which can be
easily retrofitted into existing railway freight cars.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a
female connection member for use with a slackless type drawbar assembly
that connects together, in a substantially semi-permanent fashion, the
adjacently disposed ends of a pair of railway freight cars which is
lighter in weight than previously
used conventional type couplers that require the use of yokes, draft
gear, draft key members and follower members.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a
female connection member for use with a slackless
type drawbar assembly that connects together, in a substantially semi-
permanent fashion, the adjacently disposed ends of a pair of railway
freight cars which requires an absolute minimum number of frictionally
engageable surfaces to be subjected to excessive frictional wear.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a
female connection member for use with a slackless type drawbar assembly
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~'I~? 13489
-that connects together, in a substantially semi-permanent fashion, the
adjacently disposed ends of a pair of railway freight cars which does
not require the use of any specialized tools and/or other equipment to
.install on a railway freight car.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a
female connection member for use with a slackless type drawbar assembly
that connects together, in a substantially semi-permanent fashion, the
adjacently disposed ends of a pair of railway freight cars which does
not require the use of any front draft stop members.
Although a number of specific objects and advantages of the present
invention have been described in some detail above, various additional
objects and advantages of such. female connection member for use with a
slackless type drawbar assembly which incorporates a ball and race
assembly at one end thereof wall become much more readily apparent to
those persons who are skilled in the railway freight car coupling art
from the following more detailed description of the invention,
particu:Larly, when such detailed description is taken in conjunction
with both the attached drawing Figures and with the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a top view which illustrates one presently preferred
embodiment of the female connecaion member, constructed according to the
present invention, for use in an improved slackless type drawbar
assembly ; and
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C1~2134859
Figure 2 is a side elevation view, partially in cross section, of
ouch female connection member illustrated in Figure 1 to be used in a
;slackless type drawbar assembly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY
PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the female
~~onnection member used in an improved slackless type drawbar assembly,
.according to the present invention, it should first be noted that
identical component parts, which have identical functions associated
therewii~h, have been designated with identical reference numerals
throughout the views that have been illustrated in the drawings, for the
sake of clarity.
Reference is now made, mare particularly, to the attached drawing
Figures 1 and 2. Illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 is one presently
preferred embodiment of a female connection member, generally
designated, 10 used in conjunction with an improved slackless type
drawbar assembly, illustrated in our copending patent application
referenced above, for connecting together the adjacently disposed ends
(not shown) of a pair of railway freight cars (not shown) in a
substantially semi-permanent fashion.
Such slackless drawbar assembly includes at least one such female
connection member 10. Such at least one female connection member 10
includes a first end portion 12. This first end portion 12 having a
first predetermined configuration which enables the first end portion 12
of the at least one female connection member 10 to be disposed within
and engaged to an outer end portion (not shown) of a center sill member
C;~21348~i9
(not shown) disposed on a bottom portion of a car body member (not
;shown) of a first railway car, also, (not shown) . The female connection
member 10, also, includes a radially opposed second end portion,
generally designated, 20 which extends outwardly from such outer end
;portion of the center sill member. The first predetermined
~~onfiguration of such first end portion 12 of the female connection
:member 1.0 is, preferably, substantially rectangular in shape. According
to the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, such first end
portion 12 and the radially opposed second end portion 20 of the female
connection member 10 will be formed as an integral single piece casting
which, preferably, will be a steel casting.
A cavity 14 is formed in the radially opposed second end portion 20
of such at least one female connection member 10. Such cavity 14 being
defined by an inner surface 16 of a back wall portion 18, having a
second ;predetermined configuration, an inner surface 22 of a top wall
portion 24 and an inner surface 26 of a pair of side wall portions 28,
each side wall portion 28 having a third predetermined configuration.
Accordingly, such cavity 14 is open adjacent at least a portion of a
bottom :32 and an outer end 34 of the radially opposed second end portion
20 of such at least one female connection member 10. In the presently
preferred embodiment, the second predetermined configuration of such
inner surface 16 of the back wall portion 18 of the cavity 14 formed in
such second end portion 20 of the at least one female connection member
will be generally concave in at least one of a vertical direction and
a horizontal direction. In a still more preferred embodiment, the
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213459 a
second predetermined configuration of such inner surface 16 of
the back wall portion :is of such cavity 14 formed in the second
end portion 20 of such female connection member 10 will be
generally concave in both such vertical direction and such
horizontal direction. In addition, the third predetermined
configuration of such inner surfaces 26 of each of such pair of
side wall portions 28 of the cavity 14 formed in such second end
portion 20 of the at least one female connection member 10 will,
preferably, be generally convex shaped in at least a horizontal
direction. In the more preferred embodiment of the invention,
as has been clearly illustrated in the drawing Figures, the
third predetermined configuration of such inner surfaces 26 of
sucra each of such pair of side wall portions 28 of cavity 14
formed in the second end portion 20 of such female connection
member 10 will be generally convex shaped in both such
horizontal direction and a vertical direction.
There is a first opening 36, having a fourth predetermined
configuration, formed through a first one of such pair of side
wall. portions 28. Additiona7_ly, there is a radially opposed
second opening (not shown), having a fifth predetermined
configuration, formed through a second one of such pair of side
wall. portions 28. In the presently preferred embodiment of
the invention, the fourth predetermined configuration of
such first opening 36 formed through the first one of such pair
of side wall portions 28 and such fifth predetermined
configuration of the radi.ally opposed second opening formed
through such second one of~ such pair of side wall portions 28
wil7_ at least include a generally round portion 40 and a
generally open bottom portion 42.
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rA2134859
In addition to the female connection member 10 described in detail
above, as is clear from our copending patent application referenced
above, such slackless type drawbar assembly further includes at least
one male connection member ( not shown in Figures 1 and 2 ) which exhibits
a sixth predetermined configuration. Such at least one male connection
member includes each of a first end portion and a radially opposed
second end portion. At least a portion of such first end portion of the
at least one male connection member being movably disposed within such
cavity 14 formed in the radial.ly opposed second end portion 20 of such
at least one female connection member 10. Preferably, the first end
portion of such at least one male connection member will include an
inner end surface, which is disposed facing the inner surface 16 of such
back wall portion 18 of the cavity 14 formed in such second end portion
20 of the at least one female connection member 10, which is convex
shaped in at least one of a vertical direction and a horizontal
direction. It is even more preferred that such first end portion of
such at least one male connection member be convex shaped in both such
vertical direction and such horizontal direction.
An aperture (not shown) is formed through a predetermined portion
of such at least one male connection member adjacent the first end
portion thereof. Preferab7_y, such aperture formed through the
predetermined portion of such at least one male connection member
adjacent the first end portion thereof will be generally round and will
have a first predetermined diameter.
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02134859
Disposed at least partially within such aperture, formed
in the first end portion of such at least one male connection member, is
a spherical shaped member (not shown). There is a pair of substantially
horizontally disposed shaft members (not shown) extending outwardly for
a predetermined distance from radially opposed and substantially
vertically disposed outer surfaces of such spherical shaped member. At
least a portion of a first one of such pair of horizontally disposed
shaft members being disposed within such first opening 36 formed through
the first one of such pair of side wall portions 28 and at least a
portion of a second one of i:he pair of horizontally disposed shaft
members being disposed within such second opening formed through the
second one of such pair of side wall portions 28. Each respective one
of such pair of shaft members includes a radially opposed and
substantially flat surface portion formed thereon. According to the
presently preferred embodiment of the invention, the spherical shaped
member and the pair of horizontally disposed shaft members will be
formed as an integral single piece, preferably, as a forging.
Additionally, such spherical shaped member will include a chrome plating
on at least a portion of an outer surface thereof. Such at least a
portion of such chrome plated outer surface of the spherical shaped
member will, preferably, be polished.
A race assembly (not shawn) is provided to secure the spherical
shaped member to such first end portion of the male connection member.
In this arrangement, at least a portion of such race assembly is
disposed within the aperture in a position such that an inner surface of
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21348x9
such race assembly is disposed around at least a portion of such
spherical shaped member disposed within the aperture formed in
such first end portion of such at least one male connection
member. In the presently preferred embodiment of the invention,
such race assembly will be secured in a manner such that it can
be readily removed from the first end portion of such male
connection member.
In addition, it is presently preferred that the slackless
type drawbar assembly further includes a substantially solid
type lubricating liner member (not shown) disposed intermediate
the outer surface of such spherical shaped member and such inner
surface of the race assembly. Preferably, such solid lubricating
liner member will be of the type manufactured by Kahr Bearing
Co. under the Tradename "KARLON".
Another essential component of such slackless type
drawbar assembly, according to the present invention, is a pair
of wedge means. A first surface of a first one of such pair of
wedge means is engaged with a first one of the radially opposed
and substantially flat surface portions formed on such pair of
shaft members. The second surface of such first one of the
pair of wedge means is engaged with a substantially flat and
vertically disposed surface portion formed on the first one of
such pair of side wall portions 28 adjacent a portion of the
first opening 36. Likewise, a first surface of a second one of
such pair of wedge means is engaged with a second one of such
radlally opposed and substantially flat surface portions formed
2134859
on such pair of shaft members and a second surface of the second
one of such pair of wedges means is engaged with a substantially
flat and vertically
15a
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21348x9
disposed surface portion (not shown) formed on the second one of
such pair of side wall portions 28 adjacent a portion of such
second opening.
In the presently preferred embodiment of the invention,
such pair of wedge means includes a first wedge member and a
second wedge member. Each of such first wedge member and the
second wedge member has a bolt disposed therethrough in a
substantially longitudinal direction and washer means. The
first wedge member includes the first tapered surface engaged
with the first flat surface portion of such radially opposed and
substantially flat surface portions formed on such pair of shaft
members and a substantially flat and vertically disposed second
surface which is engaged with a mating vertical surface disposed
on such first opening 36 formed through the first one of such
pair of side wall portions 28.
The second wedge member, preferably, substantially
identical to such first wedge member includes a tapered surface
engaged with a second flat surface portion of such radially
opposed and substantially flat surface portions formed on the
pair of shaft members and a substantially flat and vertically
disposed surface on such second wedge member is engaged with a
mating vertical surface disposed on such second opening formed
through the second one of such pair of side wall portions 28.
Another essential elE~ment of the present invention is a
means engageable with such second end portion of the at least
one male connection member and a second end portion of another
male connection member for securing such second end portion of
the at least one male
16
213459
connection member to the second end portion of such other
male connection member thereby forming an improved slackless
type drawbar assembly.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, such
means for engagement with such second end portion of the at
least one male connection member and the second end portion of
such other male connection member for securing them together may
be a simple weldment.
In a presently preferred embodiment of the invention,
however, such means engageable with the second end portion of
such. at least one male connection member and the second end
portion of such other male°. connection member for securing them
together will include at least one of a bar-like member and a
pipe-like member disposed intermediate and secured to such
second end portion of the at least one male connection member
and the second end portion of such other male connection member.
In the case where such pipe-like member is used, it is
possible that the second end portion of such first male
connection member and the second end of such second male
connection member include a male member inserted into respective
opposed ends of such pipe-like member.
According to the most preferred embodiment of the
invention, such improved slackless type drawbar assembly will
further include a second female connection member which is
substantially identical to such first female connection member
10. Like the first female connection member 10, such second
female connection member includes a first end portion, having
a seventh predetermined configuration, to enable such first end
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2134859
portion of the second female connection member to be engaged
within an
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CA2134~59
outer end portion of a center sill member disposed on a bottom portion
of a car body member of a second railway car and a radially opposed
second end portion which extends outwardly from such outer end portion
of such center sill member of the second railway car.
A second cavity is formed in the radially opposed second end
portion of such second female connection member. This second cavity,
like thE~ first cavity 14, is defined by an inner surface of a back wall
portion, having an eighth predetermined configuration, an inner surface
of a top wall portion and an inner surface of a pair of side wall
portions. The inner surface of each side wall portion having a ninth
predetermined configuration. Such second cavity is, preferably, also
open adjacent at least a portion of a bottom and an outer end of such
radially opposed second end portion of the second female connection
member. In this embodiment of: the invention, the eighth predetermined
configuration of such inner surface of the back wall portion of such
second :female connection member will be substantially identical to such
back wall portion 18 of the cavity 14 formed in the second end portion
20 of such at least one female connection member 10. Further, the ninth
predetermined configuration oi_ the inner surfaces of each of such pair
of side wall portions of the second end portion of such second female
connection member will be substantially identical to the third
predetermined configuration o:f such inner surfaces 26 of each of such
pair of side wall portions 28 of such cavity 14 formed in the second end
portion 20 of the at least one female connection member 10.
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213489
Additionally, a first opening, having a tenth predetermined
configuration, is formed through a first one of such pair of
side wall portions of the second end portion of such second
female connection member arid a radially opposed second opening,
having an eleventh predetermined configuration, is formed
through a second one of such pair of side wall portions of the
second end portion of such second female connection member.
Preferably, in this embodiment of the invention, the tenth
predetermined configuration of such first opening formed through
the first one of such pair of side wall portions of the second
end portion of such second female connection member and the
eleventh predetermined configuration of such radially opposed
opening formed through the second one of such pair of side wall
portions of such second end portion of the second female
connection member at least. includes a generally round portion
and a generally open bottom portion.
A second male connection member, having a twelfth
predetermined configuration, is provided in the presently
preferred embodiment of the invention. Such second male
connection member includes a first end portion in which at least
a portion thereof is movably disposed within such second cavity
formed in such radially opposed second end portion of such
second female connection member and a radially opposed second
end portion. dike the first end portion of the first male
connection member, such first end portion of this second male
connection member includes a surface disposed facing the inner
sur:Eace of such back wall portion of the second female
connection member which is convex shaped in each of a vertical
dir~sction and a horizontal. direction.
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GQ2134859
In addition, there is a second aperture formed through a
predetermined portion of such second male connection member adjacent the
first end portion thereof.
The preferred embodiment. of this invention further includes a
second spherical shaped member having at least a portion thereof
disposed within such second aperture formed through such first end
portion of the second male connection member. A second pair of
substantially horizontally disposed shaft members extend outwardly for
a predetermined distance from radially opposed and substantially
vertically disposed outer surfaces of such second spherical shaped
member. At least a portion of a first one of such second pair of shaft
members being disposed within the first opening formed through such
first one of the pair of side wall portions of such second end portion
of the second female connection member and at least a portion of a
second one of such pair of ahaft members being disposed within the
second opening formed through the second one of such pair of side wall
portions. Each respective ones of such second pair of shaft members has
a radially opposed and substantially flat surface portion formed
thereon.
A second race assembly having at least a portion thereof disposed
within such second aperture is secured to the first end portion of such
second male connection member. An inner surface of this second race
assembly is disposed around such at least a portion of the second
spherical shaped member disposed within such second aperture formed in
the first end portion of such second male connection member.
~'A2134859
Additionally, there is a second pair of wedge means provided. A
first surface of a first one of such second pair of wedge means is
engaged with a first one of such radially opposed and substantially flat
surface portions formed on the second pair of shaft members and a second
surface of such first one of the second pair of wedge means is engaged
with a substantially flat and vertically disposed surface portion formed
on the first one of such pair of side wall portions of the second end
portion of such second female connection member adjacent a portion of
such first opening. Likewise, a first surface of a second one of such
second pair of wedge means is engaged with a second one of such radially
opposed and substantially flat surface portions formed on the second
pair of shaft members and a second surface of such second one of such
second pair of wedge means is engaged with a substantially flat and
vertically disposed surface portion formed on the second one of such
pair of side wall portions of the second end of such second female
connection member adjacent a portion of the second opening.
Preferably, the improved slackless type drawbar assembly further
includes a second substantially solid type lubricating liner member
disposed intermediate an outer_ surface of such second spherical shaped
member and the inner surface of such second race assembly.
According to the presently preferred embodiment of the invention,
such second race assembly is removably secured to such first end of the
second male connection member. In addition, such second spherical
shaped member and such second pair of shaft members are formed as an
integral single piece component. Further, such second pair of wedge
21
CA2134859
means will include a first and a second wedge member. Each of such
first and second wedge members have a bolt disposed therethrough in a
longitudinal direction and washer means. The first one of such second
pair wedge members includes a tapered surface engaged with a first flat
surface portion of the axially opposed and substantially flat surface
portions formed on such second pair of shaft members and a substantially
flat and vertical surface disposed on such first one of the second pair
of wedge members is engaged with a mating vertical surface disposed on
such first opening formed through the first one of such pair of side
wall portions of the second end portion of such second female connection
member. The second one of such second pair of wedge members includes a
tapered surface engaged with a second flat surface portion of such
radially opposed and substantially flat surface portions formed on such
pair of shaft members and a substantially flat and vertically disposed
surface on the second one of such first and second wedge members is
engaged with a mating vertical surface disposed on the second opening
formed through such second one of such pair of side wall portions of
such second female connection member.
While a number of presently preferred and various alternative
embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail
above, 'with particular reference to the drawing Figures, it should be
understood by those persons who are skilled in the railway car type
coupling art that it is possible for a number of additional
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modifications and/or other adaptations of such slackless type drawbar
assembly to be made without departing from either the spirit or the
scope o:f the appended claims.
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